LSU football players reflect on undefeated regular season, look ahead to SEC championship

One game at a time.

The phrase has become a cliché in sports, a reminder to not overlook opponents and to focus on the next contest. The LSU football team has adopted that mantra and — to this point — it's worked.

The Tigers have taken 12 games — one game at a time — and rode that focus to an undefeated season. Despite reaching the pinnacle of regular season success for the first time since 1958, the players took little time to reflect on the significance of a 12-0 season.

"After the game we did [reflect]," said junior cornerback Morris Claiborne. "But other than that, it's out of the way now. We're trying to go 13-0."

For LSU to reach 13-0, they must get past No. 14 Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Championship. Sophomore cornerback Tyrann Mathieu said in order for the season's first 12 games to matter, the team must focus on the final two.

"We don't want to lose this game and [have] the rest of the games that came before that not mean anything," Mathieu said. "The important game is always the next game."

Winning that next game would allow the Tigers to cross off another goal — an SEC title.

"That's what you come to LSU to do," sophomore safety Eric Reid said. "To get a championship in this division says a lot. It's not a game you can overlook."

Many analysts believe LSU can overlook Georgia and still make the BCS title game. They think the quality of the Tigers' wins to this point would keep them in the top two of the BCS, even with a loss to the Bulldogs.

Claiborne said the players hear the opinions about their team, but he and his teammates ignore all of it.

"It's easy for me to shut it out," Claiborne said. "I just brush it off like it's nothing, because I know what's in front of me. I have to worry about the game in front of me, and that's Georgia."

The Tigers have grown accustomed to avoiding the talk surrounding them. Reid said the number of premier games they've played this season has helped them adjust to the attention.

"There's chatter for every game," Reid said. "Every game we've played this season, there's always something. We just have to keep doing what we've been doing, not paying attention to that and just focus on what we do."

Some have suggested that LSU should consider the Georgia game an exhibition, an opportunity to rest starters and prevent its star players from suffering injuries. Analysts say the Tigers should instead turn their attention to an inevitable rematch with No. 2 Alabama in the national championship and that the Crimson Tide could actually benefit from not playing in the SEC Championship.

"Every argument has its pros and cons," Reid said. "Alabama doesn't get to play for the SEC Championship, and we do. If we see them in the national championship, then that's just who we have to play."

But when players are asked about the Jan. 9 contest, they shrug it off. The SEC Championship comes first.

"There's that little tick in your ear," Claiborne said. "LSU and Alabama. Rematch. Realistically, we're going to be playing Georgia, then whatever happens after that happens."

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Contact Hunter Paniagua at hpaniagua@lsureveille.com